'Offaly could be left in Level 5', councillor warns

by David Power

Offaly could be the only county left behind when Level 5 lockdown restrictions are eventually lifted due to Offaly having the highest rate of Covid-19 infections per 100,000 people in the country, the monthly meeting of Offaly Co Council was warned.

Cllr Ken Smollen issued the stark warning in relation to the county having the highest level of Covid-19 infections per head of population.

“The figures in relation to Covid-19 in Offaly have to be extremely concerning,” he said.

“We are the highest in the country per head of population and I can only guess that the people of Offaly are not acting any differently than people in any other county,” he said.

“It obviously means that there is a reason that our figures are so high. If we as a county are to improve the situation, I think it’s only fair that the people of our county are told where these areas are – where the centres of the infection are,” Cllr Smollen said.

He said it would be helpful if they knew were the outbreaks in plants, factories, supermarkets, schools or specific towns or areas or are there schools involved.

“I think we need to get specific figures from the HSE,” he said.

“The way things are going, Co Offaly could actually be the one county left behind, when the restrictions are relaxed in the rest of the country,” Cllr Smollen said.

Offaly was one of three counties, along with Laois and Kildare, which had lockdown restrictions imposed last year, resulting in people not being allowed leave the county due to a higher than the national average rate of Covid-19 infections.

Council Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney reassured the members that they are in weekly contact with the HSE.

“There’s no specific issue. There are a few outbreaks around the county - it’s a rural county and the numbers are dispersed, and that’s the main thing,” Ms Delaney said.

“However, unfortunately it’s the calculation in relation to the 100,000 which is putting it at the top of that league table,” the Chief Executive added.

In response, Cllr Smollen said the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 in Offaly is 386, in Dublin it’s 223, while the average across the country is 150.7.

“I think we definitely need to take action as a county because we will be left in lockdown and it will be too late then. We need to pinpoint these areas, and people need to know where these areas are. Most people are doing everything they possibly can do, but through no fault of their own we’re all being affected as a county,” he said.

Ms Delaney said they would get an update report from the HSE for members.

“We are liaising with the HSE and really it’s to get the message out that people adhere to guidelines and restrict movement as much as possible,” the Chief Executive said.